The Public Sphere or Realm

Definition of the Determined by elected officials or techni- Determined by elected officials or What is public is seen as going far beyond government, common good, cal experts by aggregating individual prefer- though government has a special role as a guarantor of public value, ences supported by evidence of public values. Common good determined by broadly in public interest consumer choice elusive dialogue and deliberation informed by evidence and democratic and constitutional values Role of politics Elect governors, who determine policy Elect governors, who determine “Public work,” including determining policy objectives via objectives policy objectives; empowered dialogue and deliberation; democracy as “a way of life” managers; administrative politics around the use of specific tools Role of citizenship Voter, client, constituent Customer Citizens seen as problem-solvers and co-creators actively engaged in creating what is valued by the public and is good for the public Government and Public Administration Role of government Rowing, seen as designing and imple- Steering, seen as determining Government acts as convener, catalyst, collaborator; agencies menting policies and programs in re- objectives and catalyzing service sometimes steering, sometimes, rowing, sometimes sponse to politically defined objectives delivery via tool choice and partnering, sometimes staying out of the way reliance if possible on markets, businesses and nonprofit organi zations Key objectives Politically provided goals; implementation Politically provided goals; Create public value in such a way that what the public managed by public servants; monitor- managers manage inputs and most cares about is addressed effectively and what is ing done via bureaucratic and elected outputs in a way that ensures good for the public is put in place officials’ oversight economy and responsiveness to consumers